Did you know that in an average lifetime we use our feet to walk the equivalent of five times the circumference of the earth? Yet, many rarely give their feet and footwear much attention beyond aesthetics.
Comfortable walking shoes should be the most important part of an individual's attire, as no other article of clothing must fit so precisely and perform critical mechanical functions such as transferring body weight. Aside from leading immediately foot discomfort, incorrect or inadequate footwear can lead problems with lower legs, hips, knees and lower back. Furthermore, falls are most frequent among those with poorly fitting footwear.
Choosing Good Walking Shoes
There are many characteristics to good, comfort walking shoes. Generally, price isn't a factor that the shoe is a good one and famous brand are not a guarantee of a quality shoe. You should check if the shoe has the following features.
Sufficient Width and Depth
There should be enough room at the front of the shoe for your toes. During regular walking, your foot spreads out and lengthens up to one centimetre in each direction. Hence, you should pick a shoe that is longer than your longest toe by about the widths of your thumb.
Maximum 2.5cm Heel
The shoe's heel shouldn't exceed 2.5 cm in height. If the shoe heel exceeds this measure, your heel and ankle will become more unstable, and thus prone to sprains and forefoot pain.
Flexibility
Comfortable walking shoes need to be flexible at the forefoot as walkers should push off with their toes. A shoe that bends at the arch doesn't provide the platform necessary and a shoe that doesn't bend at all is unacceptable.
Material
Walking shoes are made using leather/suede or fabric upper. Sometimes they can be a combination of the two. Shoes make with a suede and mesh upper are lighter weight and more breathable than traditional leather shoes. Full leather shoes are generally the heaviest option of the three while the fabric is often the lightest. However, leather shoes are more durable compared to fabric.
Now that you know what features to look for, you can shop with confidence. Keep in mind that too worn-down shoes tend to lose some of their basic functions. Continuing to walk in worn-out walking shoes increases the stress and impact on your legs and joint, which can result in overuse injuries. Always were walking shoes that are comfortable and properly fitted for a walk.
